Schemata News
Last month, Marijana Cvencek and David Witte were added to the Schemata Workshop roster. We are overjoyed to welcome these two engaged and thoughtful community leaders. You can read their bios in the staff page, but we thought we would continue the tradition of asking our newest coworkers off-the-beaten-track questions to get to know them.
Here are their answers:
Cheers!
- The Froggers
Being asked to deliver a TED talk is an interesting experience (I’ll write about the actual experience of giving the talk at a later date.) There's lots of coaching from TED organizers on content, length, and delivery. I’ve had a private sessions with a voice coach and participated in a workshop on what do (and not do) with hands and body posture, and been told what to wear (and not to wear) on camera. I’ve met some of the other presenters at a live rehearsal in NYC and experienced impostor syndrome as I sat through a dinner with them afterwards. I’ve since recovered. I’ve tightened up my main points and editing out many stories--perhaps I’ll have a chance to share all of them in another, longer talk.
The topic of my talk on April 26 is cohousing as an antidote for isolation. I highlight how we have become isolated due to the pursuit of the American Dream as well as social media, and how cohousing promotes social connection and could even save your life.
For those you interested in process, here are some interesting bits I found during my research for the talk:
A recent article describing the medical dangers of loneliness, particularly for middle aged men: https://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2017/03/09/the-biggest-threat-facing-middle-age-men-isn-smoking-obesity-loneliness/k6saC9FnnHQCUbf5mJ8okL/story.html
A fantastic video, albeit a commercial, describing isolation and the importance of eating together to build community: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDuA9OPyp6I
One of my favorite TED Talks. It's about procrastination, watched while procrastinating on my own talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/tim_urban_inside_the_mind_of_a_master_procrastinator
And another TED favorite. I have been employing the Wonder Woman stance before talks and presentations over the past few years. You can be sure I’ll be taking the stance before my TED: https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are
- Grace
There’s nothing more satisfying as an architect than closing out a project and watching excited residents take occupancy of their building. We had the pleasure of doing just that last month when we completed an annex for the Chi Psi Fraternity at the University of Washington. Chi Psi’s membership had outgrown their 1924 home, affectionately known as The Lodge. Despite extensive renovations in 2010, the near-century-old building was in need of additional space to house fraternity members who were living off-site.
The goal of the annex was to house these members and provide additional amenity spaces. One of the challenges of the project was a tight site that resulted in a tall building with a small footprint. The project consists of 15 student rooms spread over 4 floors. Each floor contains a full bathroom with and laundry facilities on the ground floor. Each student living in the annex has a private room with a built-in bed and storage unit. The annex’s location adjacent to the northeast corner of the existing Chi Psi building places residents of the annex at an easy distance from the kitchen, dining area, and library contained in the existing lodge. It’s location also encloses a courtyard and sports court for basketball, summer barbecues, and other activities. The contractor for the project, Carlisle Classic Homes, was able to complete the project in time for the students to move in for the ‘16-‘17 school year.
Incredibly, two weeks have passed since our open house and Park(ing) Day. And what is there to say except a heartfelt "thank you" to everyone who made the day possible and came out to celebrate with us.
Danny Ngan for documenting the evening with these and other beautiful images
Ragen & Associates for contributing landscaping for our parklet
Elliott Bay Book Company for donating to our park's take-away library
Scratch Deli for providing snack for our park guests
copyright schemata workshop
We made it. After months of delays and rescheduling, two full days of packing and unpacking, and many subsequent hours of organizing, we’re finally in our new home on Capitol Hill. Slowly, things are coming together—our admins have their new casework, acoustic felt and carpeting are going in, and the next few weeks will get us pretty darn close to complete.
We asked the staff, “What have you most enjoyed about being back on Capitol Hill? What are you most looking forward to now that we’re back? What has surprised you most about being in the new office?” Here are some of their answers:
Will: Being in a vibrant neighborhood with Seattle’s best park a few blocks away. Enjoying lunch on the roof deck. How spacious the office feels.
Margaret T: I like being so close to home and in the middle of Cap Hill – it feels like a community here, and we’re so close to my favorite haunts. I also like that Cap Hill is not so touristy!
Abby: I’ve enjoyed being able to walk to work. Not only is it a quick and easy commute, it’s fun seeing the neighborhood wake up as I make my way into the office. I was anticipating the open office layout to be very distracting, and I’m surprised by how little that’s been a problem for me.
Mike: Seeing people I know while walking around the neighborhood—that didn’t happen much in the temp location. Being close to our daughter and the CHUC community throughout the day. It’s hotter than I hoped…need to work on ventilation and night cooling.
Joann: I enjoy the natural daylight in the office, the standing desk configuration and being so close to the park. I’m looking forward to exploring the neighborhood and getting to know the local businesses.
Mira: I love being able to walk to work and seeing all the quirky personalities of those on Capitol Hill. I enjoy being together in one big space as one big Schemata family. I look forward to settling in, decluttering, and adding some personality back to our second home! One thing that never ceases to amaze me, despite the transition pains, is how seamless it has been to work on virtual machines.
Sarah: The office moving to the Hill has meant that everyone is starting over together in a new space. As the newest person in the office, this has helped me feel like one of the team faster than if we hadn’t all participated in the big move!
Grace: I like being immersed in the community where I have invested my personal and professional time. Within the walls of our new building I enjoy the sounds of kids playing, neighbors talking and laughing, and the clink of dishes as they get washed or neighbors eat dinner. Outside the gate to the building I enjoy a vibrant business district where I meet my neighbors of the greater Capitol Hill community.
And we’re not done celebrating!
9/16: Stop by any time to enjoy our PARKing Day pop-up parklet, then join us for our Open House
Cheers!
-The Froggers